Expression-controlling mechanism for music-players.



A. F. HAUSS. EXPRESSION coNTRoLmNG MEGHANISM PoR MUSIC PLAYERS. APPLICATION FILED 11213.15, 1911.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO" WASHINQTBN. D C.

A. F. HAUss. I EXPRESSION GONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC PLAYERS.

APPLIGATION FILED IBB.15, 1911. 1,046,184. Patented 1380.3, 1912.

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COLUMNA FLANOGEAPM cO.,WASmNnroN.p. C.

ALBERT F. HAUSS, OF AURORA, INDIANA.

`EXIE'RESSION-CON'TROLLNGV MECHANISM FOR MUSIC-PLAYERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 15, 1911.

Patented Dec. 3,1912.

Serial No. 608,655.

lo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. Heuss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Dearborn and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expres- "sion-Controlling Mechanism for Music- Players, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in expression mechanism for music players.

One of its objects is to provide an improved eXpression-controlling mechanism adapted to be conveniently applied to eX- isting musical instruments or to those in process of construction.

Another object is to vprovide a controlling mechanism in which the operative parts are movable in a plane at substantially right angles to the movement of the hammers.

Another object is to provide a controlling mechanism which does not affect or injure the quality of the tones.`

My invention further comprises certain details of form, combination and arrangement, all of which will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanyin drawings in which:

igure 1 is a vertical section through a musical instrument embodying my invention, and on line c o of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the upper portion of the casing broken away to eX- pose the hammers and controlling mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail partly in section of a modification in which an electrically actuated mechanism is employed to actuate the controlling mechanism. Fig. 4 is a diaam illustrating one form of controlling zrlr or lever and its connections and range of adjustments. Fig. 5 is a similar diagram illustrating the range of adjustment of the controlling bar illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a similar diagram of another modifcation. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the hammer and connection of the controlling mechanism thereto, and illustrating modifications of said connections. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the support-ing rails. Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating a modification.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of my invention, A represents the frame or casing of a musical instrument, B represents a key-bed, C keys, D hammer actuating mechanisms, E hammers, F music strings, and G the hammer-rest rail, all of which may be of ordinary construction. In order to control the expression or volume of tone I provide a rail or bar H which may be either continuous or divided into two or more sections. The bar H is attached by flexible connections 2 to some portion of the respective hammers in such manner that a strain from bar H on the connections 2 will cause the hammers to approach the strings, thus shortening the hammer strokes and decreasing the volume of tone emitted. The

bar H either as a whole, or the respective sections thereof are adapted to be flexed or shifted to various positions of inclination so as to act through the several connections 2 on part of the hammers only, or by a uniform simultaneous adjustment of all parts of the bar H so as to act to a uniform degree on all the hammers, or by a compounding of both adjustments to secure the desired adjustment of the hammers.

The bar H is preferably arranged so that its movements will be in a plane substantially at right angles to the stroke of the hammers, orin a plane parallel with the plane occupied by the several strings. The bar H may be located either above or below the hammers. As illustrated in Fig. l the connections 2 are strained over cross rails 20, 2l supported by the casinga A; such rails however are not necessarily employed, as

the connections 2 may be attached to the i hammers so that the strain on the connections 2 will be in straight or direct line from the hammers to bar H.

The adjustment of the bar H or its sections is adapted to be eiected either manually by the operator through mechanically, electrically or pneumatically actuated mechanism, or automatically controlled by l mea-ns of electrically or pneumatically actuated mechanism. As illustrated in Figs. l and 2 the bar H is'divided into two sections 3, i which are arranged end to end and pivotally connected at their meeting ends. Connecting members 5, which may be either rigid or flexible serve to connect the middle and opposite ends of bar H with pivoted levers 6 preferably located beneath the key-bed B. Springs 7 serve to normally hold the bar H in its lowerposition with all the hammers advanced toward the strings to produce soft tones. j

The levers 6 are adapted to be engaged and actuated by pivoted levers S which are actuated. by the manual depression of keys 9. `When one or more of the springs 7 are compressed by levers 6, the weight of the hammers tends to cause the hammers to assume the position illustrated in dotted line Fig. l, and if the members 5 are flexible the weight of the hammers will serve to lift the bars H at one or both ends according to whether one or more of the springs 7 is compressed. There the members 5 are of rigid material the upward thrust of said members will serve to lift the bars H independently of the weight of the hammers. By depressing one or more of the keys 9 the bars H are elevated at one or both ends, and the length of stroke of part or all of the hammers is increased causing full tones to be sounded.

In order that the keys 9 may be assembled in convenient position side by side I preferably mount the outside keys 9 on rock shafts l0 and 11 with the levers 8 carried by said rock shafts in position to engage the respective levers 6 beneath the ends of the bar H. The middle key 9 has a curved arm S to engage the central lever 6.

As indicated in dotted line Figs. l and 2 and in full line Fig. 3, the bar H is adapted to be located above the hammers and to be lifted or adjusted by solenoids 30 controlled by separate electrical circuits 3l which solenoids serve to energize armature 32 normally suspended by flexible connections 33 and connected by connecting members 34 with the rail H. By employing a resistance 35 and a circuit-closing key 3G adapted to be manipulated to close the circuit and also to cut out of circut part or all of said resistance, said armatures will have a series of position of rest or equilibrium according to the amount of resistance in the respective circuits, whereby partial or step adjustments of bar H may be effected. The key 36 is adapted when depressed to first stage to close the circuit between points 37 and 38 with all the resistance in circuit. At the second stage the circuit is closed from 37 to 39 through 38 cutting out half the resistance, while in the third stage the circuit is closed from 37 to l0 through 38 and 39 cutting out all the resistance. At each stage of key 36 its corresponding armature assumes a dierent position with reference to the solenoid. The keys 36 controlling the respective armatures are adapted to be either manually or automatically actuated.

As illustrated in Fig. t the bar H is continuous and is controlled by connecting members 5 at its opposite ends. The full lines indicate the lower or normal position of bar H, while it is adapted to be adjusted to inclined positions as indicated in dotted lines by elevating either end, or to an elevated position by simultaneously elevating both ends. As illustrated in Fig. 5 the bar H is composed of two sections pivotally connected at their meeting ends and controlled by connections 5 from the pivotal Vpoint and from opposite ends, and having adjustments as indicated in full and dotted lines as well as a simultaneous adjustment at the three points of connection. As illustrated in Fig. 6 the bar H is divided into 'two independently adjustable sections 45 t6 arranged end to end and adapted to be controlled by connections @t7 similar to the connections 5, connected to opposite ends of the respective sections. The adjustments are similar to but of wider range than those heretofore described.

Fig. 7 illustrates different methods of connecting the connecting members 2te the hammers.

As illustrated in Fig. S the rails 20 21 are provided with a series of studs 50 which serve to keep the respective connecting members 2 separated and from interfering with each other.

As illustrated in Fig. 9 a series of grooved rollers 51 areV arranged side by side upon the rod 52 and said rollers are adapted to receive and support the respective connecting members 2 in place of the rails 20 or 21 and to keep said connecting members separated.

My improved mechanism is readily accessible, and is located in such position and with its movements in such direction as not to interfere in any way with the other parts of the mechanism as heretofore generally employed.

The mechanism herein illustrated and described is capable of considerable modification without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l.. ln a musical instrument having striking members, an expression-controlling mechanism comprising a bar operable in a plane at substantially right angles to the movement of said striking members, a plurality of connecting members connecting said respective striking members with said bar, and capable of varying the length of stroke of said striking members, and a plurality of members connected to said bar and adapted to be independently actuated to vary the position of said bar.

2. In a musical instrument havinO striking members, an expression controlling mechanism comprising a sectional bar operable in a plane at substantially right angles to the movement of said striking members, a plurality of connecting members connect-Y ing said respective striking members with said bar to vary the length of stroke of said striking members, and a plurality of members connected to said bar and adapted l to be independently actuated to vary the position of said bar.

3. In a musical instrument having striking members, an expression controlling mechanism comprising a bar operable in a plane at substantially right angles to the movement of said striking members, a plurality of connecting members connecting said respective striking members With said bar, and capable of varying the length of stroke of said striking members, and means to shift said bar to varying positions and inclinations to vary the stroke of part or all of said striking members.

4. In a musical instrument having striking members, an expression-controlling mechanism comprising a sectional bar comprising a plurality of independently adjustable sections arranged end to end, a plurality of connecting members connecting said respective striking members With said bar sections to vary the length of stroke of said striking members, and a plurality of members connected to said respective bar sect-ions and adapted to be independently actuated to vary the position of said bar section.

5. In a musical instrument having striking members, an expression controlling mechanism comprising a sectional bar composed of a plurality of independently adjustable sections, a plurality of connecting members connecting said respective striking members with said bar sections to vary the length of stroke of said striking members, and means to independently shift said bar sections to varying positions to vary the length of stroke of part or all of said striking members.

6. In a musical instrument having striking members, an expression controlling mechanism comprising a bar extending transversely of said striking members, a plurality of iiexible connecting members connecting said respective striking members With'said bar to vary the length of stroke of said striking members, and a plurality of the stroke of part or all of said striking members.

8. In a musical instrument having striking members, an expression controlling mechanism comprising a bar operable in front of and in a plane at substantially right angles to the movement of said striking members, a plurality of flexible connecting members connecting said respective striking members with said bar to vary the length of stroke of said striking members, a supporting rail over which said iexible connecting p members are drawn, and a plurality of members connected to said bar and capable of being independently actuated to vary the position of said bar.

9. In a musical instrument having striking members, an expression cont-rolling mechanism comprisingv a bar operable in a plane at substantially right angles to the movement of said striking members, a plurality of connecting members connectingsaid respective striking members With said bar to vary the length ofV stroke of said striking members, and means to shift said bar to varying positions of Obliquity to vary the length of stroke of part of said striking members.

In testimony whereof I have atixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT F. HAUSS.

Witnesses:

C. W. MILES, C. H. BARTH.

Copies cf this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

